Aaaaaaaa...alligator!!!!

• Place: Marrington Plantation Trails - Goose Creek, SC
• Trailhead: Naval Weapons Station
• Riders with OMMB: Teri and Sadie
• Miles: 9.5-ish
• Weather:  Overcast
• Temp: 70
• Trail Conditions: excellent
• Technical Level: easy
• Wildlife:  um yeah... see below
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets:  just one "whoops" by Sadie...forgot to put her foot down
• GPS Track: GPS didn't track the first couple of miles, but I'll fill it in later...  http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/2150543

Here's the map... https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5i71gqJB5xbTTBNUEZ4Tnl1ejg/edit?usp=sharing

Notes: Well if you look up smooth, flat, fast trails in the MTB dictionary, surely a picture of this place will come up!  Not to say that's a bad thing, especially when you're taking your daughter for her first MTB ride, and your wife hasn't ridden all New England Winter...this is a great place to keep the peace!  Fun, easy, winding trails with real nice southern forest and river scenery, very well marked.  The trail loops are long for a beginner since there are not many loop-back options, but the flowing trails make it easy to keep going, along with inspirational signage coaxing you on (the trail is also used for Navy Training).  We saw an egret at Mary's Landing, a dead mole (biggest I've seen), and at one point when I sped around a corner, from behind me I heard "aaaaaaaa an alligator" from Sadie.  I'm thinking, "she's kidding, right?".  Wrong.  An "Oh  my GOD, an alligator" from Teri confirmed it.   It was laying on the river shoreline, a few feet from the trail, I had cruised right by the thing.  So we stopped and gawked.  About 5 feet of unblinking lizard.  NOT what I would ask for on a trail, but cool to see in the wild.  Great time!!   (I believe Sadie did like her first ride!!)

Tidbits:  When there's too much snow to ride next Winter...drive South!   Oh and recommend padded bike pants to new riders! ;)

Happy Trails,

OMMB